Stitch Marker

ABSTRACT

In some embodiments, a stitch marker comprises a body that defines a first enlarged opening and a second enlarged opening. The first enlarged opening is larger than a cross-sectional size of an associated stitching device, such as a knitting needle. The second enlarged opening is larger than the cross-sectional size of the stitching device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of US Provisional Application No. 62/318,026, filed Apr. 4, 2016, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the creation of textiles or fabric from yarn, thread and the like, such as by knitting, crocheting or any other suitable method, and more particularly to a stitch marker for use in the creation of textiles or fabric.

Stitch markers are known in the art and are often used in knitting and crocheting. Existing stitch markers are helpful in certain ways, such as marking locations where the yarn or stitch pattern changes, but they can be difficult to use in certain respects. For example, in knitting, a stitch marker is often transferred from one knitting needle to another. The act of inserting two knitting needles into a single stitch marker at different angles and trying to flip the stitch marker from one needle to the other can be difficult, and delays in the stitch marker can throw off the rhythm of the knitting process.

There remains a need for novel stitch marker designs.

All US patents and applications and all other published documents mentioned anywhere in this application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In some embodiments, a stitch marker comprises a body that defines a first enlarged opening and a second enlarged opening. The first enlarged opening is larger than a cross-sectional size of an associated stitching device, such as a knitting needle. The second enlarged opening is larger than the cross-sectional size of the stitching device.

In some embodiments, a stitch marker comprises a body that defines a first aperture and a second aperture, and the body fully surrounds each of the apertures.

In some embodiments, a stitch marker comprises a body that defines an aperture, and the aperture comprises a first enlarged opening and a second enlarged opening.

In some embodiments, a method comprises providing a stitch marker defining a first enlarged opening and a second enlarged opening. The first knitting needle is oriented through the first enlarged opening. The second knitting needle is oriented through the second enlarged opening. The first knitting needle is removed from the first enlarged opening.

These and other embodiments which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages and objectives obtained by its use, reference can be made to the drawings which form a further part hereof and the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there are illustrated and described various embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A detailed description of the invention is hereafter described with specific reference being made to the drawings.

FIGS. 1-3 show views of an embodiment of a stitch marker.

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a stitch marker.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a stitch marker with knitting needles.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show another embodiment of a stitch marker.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show another embodiment of a stitch marker.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While this invention may be embodied in many different forms, there are described in detail herein specific embodiments of the invention. This description is an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiments illustrated.

For the purposes of this disclosure, like reference numerals in the figures shall refer to like features unless otherwise indicated.

FIGS. 1-4 show an embodiment of a stitch marker 10. Desirably, a stitch marker 10 comprises a body 16 that defines a first enlarged opening portion 20 and a second enlarged opening portion 22.

In some embodiments, the first enlarged opening portion 20 comprises a first aperture 30 defined by the body 16. In some embodiments, the body 16 forms a closed structure that fully surrounds the first aperture 30. In some embodiments, the second enlarged opening portion 22 comprises a second aperture 32 defined by the body 16. In some embodiments, the body 16 forms a closed structure that fully surrounds the second aperture 32.

In some embodiments, the body 16 comprises a first perimeter portion 40 that extends around and defines at least a portion of the first enlarged opening portion 20. In some embodiments, the body 16 comprises a second perimeter portion 42 that extends around and defines at least a portion of the second enlarged opening portion 22.

In some embodiments, the body 16 comprises a bridge portion 18 oriented between the first aperture 30 and the second aperture 32. In some embodiments, the bridge portion 18 partially defines the first aperture 30. In some embodiments, the bridge portion 18 partially defines the second aperture 32.

The body 16 can have any suitable shape. In some embodiments, the body 16 forms a figure-eight shape. The perimeter portions 40, 42 can have any suitable shape and can define enlarged opening portions 20, 22 that have any suitable shape. In some embodiments, the enlarged opening portions 20, 22 can be circular, oval, polygonal or any combination thereof.

In some embodiments, the stitch marker 10 is symmetrical across one or more orthogonal axes. In some embodiments, the stitch marker 10 is symmetrical across two orthogonal axes. In some embodiments, the stitch marker 10 is symmetrical across three orthogonal axes.

In some embodiments, the enlarged opening portions 20, 22 have a similar shape.

In some embodiments, the first enlarged opening portion 20 comprises a shape that is different from the second enlarged opening portion 22.

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the stitch marker 10 shown in FIGS. 1-3. In some embodiments, portions of the body 16 define rounded portions and the marker 10 excludes hard edges. The perimeter portions 40, 42 can have any suitable cross-sectional shape, such as being circular, oval, polygonal, etc. In some embodiments, a cross-sectional shape of a perimeter portion 40 is similar to the shape of an aperture 30 or an enlarged opening portion 20. A bridge 18 can have any suitable cross-sectional shape.

The stitch marker 10 can be made from any suitable material, such as metals, polymers, elastomers, polyethylene, nylon, PTFE, wood, etc. The stitch marker 10 can be formed using any suitable method.

In some embodiments, the stitch marker 10 comprises a single piece of material. In some embodiments, the stitch marker 10 comprises multiple components attached using any suitable method, such a fastener, an adhesive, etc.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a stitch marker 10 being used with knitting needles 55, 57. A stitch marker 10 is often transferred from one knitting needle to the other. The present stitch marker 10 allows the marker 10 to be transferred between needles without requiring both needles to be positioned in a common opening portion. The present stitch marker 10 also allows the marker 10 to be transferred without contacting the marker 10 directly with the user's hand(s). When one knitting needle extends through an enlarged opening portion, the marker 10 can be transferred to the other knitting needle by placing the other needle through the non-occupied enlarged opening portion. As shown in FIG. 5, the second knitting needle 57 extends through the second enlarged opening portion 22. The first knitting needle 55 is placed through the first enlarged opening portion 20, and the second knitting needle 57 can be removed. The marker 10 can be transferred between the needles 55, 57 without manipulating the marker 10 directly by hand.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show another embodiment of a stitch marker 10. In some embodiments, the body 16 defines an aperture 30 that comprises the first enlarged opening portion 20 and the second enlarged opening portion 22. In some embodiments, the first enlarged opening portion 20 and the second enlarged opening portion 22 are separated by a narrowing portion 21 defined by the body 16.

In some embodiments, a knitting needle 55 comprises a distance 54 across the knitting needle 55, such as a diameter of the knitting needle 55. In some embodiments, a narrowing portion 21 of the body 16 comprises a distance 24 across the gap or distance 54 between closest opposed portions of the body 16. When the distance 54 across the knitting needle 55 is greater than the distance 24 across the narrowing portion 21, the knitting needle 55 cannot traverse the narrowing 21 and therefore cannot pass freely between the enlarged opening portions 20, 22.

Use of the stitch marker 10 embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is similar to use of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show another embodiment of a stitch marker 10. In some embodiments, a stitch marker 10 comprises a gap 28 formed in the body 16 that allows communication with an enlarged opening portion 20. A gap 28 allows the stitch marker 10 to be attached to a textile or fabric product in situations where a closed aperture marker could not be added. A gap 28 can also allow removal of the stitch marker 10 in situations where a closed aperture marker could not be removed.

In some embodiments, a gap is formed in a perimeter portion 40, 42.

In some embodiments, a gap 28 can be provided for each enlarged opening portions 20, 22. For example, in some embodiments, a first perimeter portion 40 comprises a gap 28 and the second perimeter portion 42 comprises a gap 28.

In some embodiments, a gap 28 can be provided on a stitch marker 10 having first and second enlarged opening portions 20, 22 that are in communication with one another. For example, a gap 28 can be provided with the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7.

In some embodiments, a kit comprises at least one knitting needle 55 and at least one stitch marker 10. In some embodiments, a kit comprises a plurality of knitting needles 55, 57 and a plurality of stitch markers 10. In some embodiments, a kit comprises a plurality of knitting needles 55, 57 and a plurality of stitch markers 10 that are different from one another (e.g. plurality of embodiments of stitch markers 10).

The above disclosure is intended to be illustrative and not exhaustive. This description will suggest many variations and alternatives to one of ordinary skill in this field of art. All these alternatives and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the claims where the term “comprising” means “including, but not limited to.” Those familiar with the art may recognize other equivalents to the specific embodiments described herein which equivalents are also intended to be encompassed by the claims.

Further, the particular features presented in the dependent claims can be combined with each other in other manners within the scope of the invention such that the invention should be recognized as also specifically directed to other embodiments having any other possible combination of the features of the dependent claims. For instance, for purposes of claim publication, any dependent claim which follows should be taken as alternatively written in a multiple dependent form from all prior claims which possess all antecedents referenced in such dependent claim if such multiple dependent format is an accepted format within the jurisdiction (e.g. each claim depending directly from claim 1 should be alternatively taken as depending from all previous claims). In jurisdictions where multiple dependent claim formats are restricted, the following dependent claims should each be also taken as alternatively written in each singly dependent claim format which creates a dependency from a prior antecedent-possessing claim other than the specific claim listed in such dependent claim below.

This completes the description of the preferred and alternate embodiments of the invention. Those skilled in the art may recognize other equivalents to the specific embodiments described herein. 

1. A stitch marker constructed and arranged for use with a knitting needle, the stitch marker comprising: a body comprising a first enlarged opening and a second enlarged opening, the first enlarged opening being larger than a cross-sectional size of the knitting needle, the second enlarged opening being larger than the cross-sectional size of the knitting needle.
 2. The stitch marker of claim 1, wherein the first enlarged opening comprises a first aperture and body forms a closed structure that fully surrounds the first aperture.
 3. The stitch marker of claim 2, wherein the second enlarged opening comprises a second aperture and body forms a closed structure that fully surrounds the second aperture.
 4. The stitch marker of claim 2, wherein the body defines a gap, the gap in fluid communication with the second enlarged opening.
 5. The stitch marker of claim 4, wherein a distance across the gap is less than a cross-sectional dimension of the knitting needle.
 6. The stitch marker of claim 1, the body comprising an aperture that comprises the first enlarged opening, the second enlarged opening and a narrowing portion between the first enlarged opening and the second enlarged opening.
 7. The stitch marker of claim 6, wherein a shortest distance across the narrowing portion is less than a cross-sectional dimension of the knitting needle.
 8. The stitch marker of claim 1, wherein the first enlarged opening and the second enlarged opening have the same shape.
 9. The stitch marker of claim 1, consisting of a single piece of material.
 10. A method comprising: providing a stitch marker comprising a first enlarged opening and a second enlarged opening; arranging a first knitting needle to extend through the first enlarged opening; arranging a second knitting needle to extend through the second enlarged opening; and removing the first knitting needle from the first enlarged opening.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein a person performing the method does not contact the stitch marker.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the first knitting needle does not contact the second knitting needle.
 13. A method comprising: providing a stitch marker as recited in claim 1; arranging a first knitting needle to extend through the first enlarged opening; arranging a second knitting needle to extend through the second enlarged opening; and removing the first knitting needle from the first enlarged opening.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein a person performing the method does not contact the stitch marker.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the first knitting needle does not contact the second knitting needle. 